Some council members now questioning United Arab Emirates donation to Jacksonville

Some city leaders are now questioning a nearly $3 million foreign gift meant to help Hurricane Irma victims.

United Arab Emirates Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba stood next to Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry at a press conference on Oct. 15 to bring attention to the $2,775,000 grant.

Council members Garrett Dennis and Anna Brosche will hold a public meeting Friday to ask new questions about why the city is accepting foreign money.

The bill approving that grant and appropriating the money passed unanimously when it came before the full council last month.

Brosche and Dennis tell Action News Jax they’ve since heard concerns from the community about accepting the UAE funds.

“I don’t know how the meeting will end tomorrow. But, you know, I’m not afraid of putting the taxpayers and security of our city first and foremost, so if it comes to that, I would have no problems with asking the mayor and the administration to give the money back,” said Dennis.

Dennis voted to approve the grant in committee and was absent for the full council vote.

“Sure, yeah, I supported it in committee. There’s a lot of bills that we vote for in committee to move it forward so we can get more questions by full council,” said Dennis.

When ambassador Al Otaiba was in Jacksonville last week, Action News Jax asked whether the UAE had business ambitions in Jacksonville.

The city is funneling most of the money to projects in Northwest Jacksonville, more than half going to the Ken Knight Drive area.

Friday’s meeting will be in the Lynwood Roberts Room at City Hall at 10 a.m.

Cox Media Group